Event Series: In Conclusion

 

So I hope everyone has learned a couple tips by the Event Series! I know the more parties and dinners I throw, the more I learn. It's an ongoing process. I haven't showcased all the parties I've thrown (as I'm sure you have noticed from the photos above) but I just wanted to recap and add some things that I didn't get to share in the series.

Playlist: Building the perfect playlist is like a science. Even though I love the Genius feature on my iTunes, I really don't think it's appropriate on special occasions. No one wants to listen to the same type of music for hours on end. The key to a great playlist is to start off on the generic upbeat side and build the energy up as time goes on with a variety of genres. Also, think of who you are having. Don't just play what you want to hear or just what you think your guests may want to hear. People need to branch out, and its a great source for conversation.

Rentals: If you haven't noticed already, I put a strong emphasis on rentals. All you need to do, is bite the bullet and do it once. You will then realize it's not that big of a deal. If the rental place you are dealing with doesn't have exactly what you are looking for, go to another place. Some rental businesses are focused more on plates and generic things, while others are more focused on specialty items. I use about two different rental places all the time. They all have showrooms and online catalogues. Remember, by renting, you don't need to clean the dishes or glassware. This reduces both stress and cleanup time. Well worth the money.

Tents: In my opinion, tents are worth every penny. Especially if it's an outdoor summer party (pictured above). If it's too hot, it will shield you from the heat, and if it's raining - well you have shelter. Either way you are covered. No plan B needed.

Photos: After the setup, and before company arrives, enjoy the fruits of your labour and take some sexy snap shots. If you think you won't be up for it, get a friend to come early and do it for you.

Keeping your Cool: When the night is done, we want people remembering what a fun time they had - not how stressed the host looked. Your disposition sets the tone for the night. If there was a big mishap in the kitchen, don't lead on. With that in mind, the key ingredient to not being stressed out is the next point;

Keeping it Simple: I've touched on this a bit, but we need to remember to keep things simple. Even if you just made the most decadent meal, but you were stressed out the whole time - um...well how do I put this...the night will suck. Everyone won't remember that perfectly seared tuna, they will remember you being stressed to the max. In contrast, if you make things that can be mostly prepared before hand, it will free up your time and relax everyone. I enjoy eating in courses. That way I can just beetle on into the kichen for a couple mintues and assemble the next course. Preparation is key.

Thinking Outside of the Box When Planning: There is nothing wrong with thinking traditionally. Tradition is great! But once and while promise me you will try something new and different. Get inspiration from movies, magazines or other sources and bounce ideas off of your friends. Lots can happen in those brainstorming sessions. My sister-in-law just threw a dinner party, and she put soup in a tea pot which was poured into vintage tea cups. In a anniversary party I threw a couple years back, we put chandeliers in the trees and brought throw rugs out onto the grass (pictured above). There are so many ways to make your party stand alone.

The Focus: Bottom line. What is the point off these functions? FUN. Good ol' fashion fun. If getting together isn't fun. Then really, what's the point?

Cheers,
Charysse

Event Series IVb: The Romantic Pirate Sailboat and Dinner

...Continued from previous post (April 4, 2011).

Since there was a pirate undertone to the whole day, we thought rum should be included. To start the night, we decided a mojito would make a perfect apéritif, and for a nightcap, chocolate rum cake with skull and crossbones.

Description: An anniversary celebration rooftop dinner party.

People: 8

Rentals: Louis ghost chairs x 8, Wine glasses x 8, Champagne coupe glasses x 8, Salad/side/dinner plates x 8, Rectangle table with linen, Silver candelabras x 2, Chrome guard posts x 6.

Menu: Tuna tar tar, Caesar salad, Lasagna, Chocolate rum cake.

Drinks: Mojito's, Champagne, Red wine.

Playlist: Marvin Gaye, New Order,The Flamingo's, Van Morrison, David Bowie, Blondie, Al Green, Sondre Lerche, The Smiths, The Kinks, Thievery Corporation, Siouxsie & The Banshees, The Cure, and many more.

The whole night was to revolve around eating at the dinner table. We needed to make the dinner simple, as we had been on a boat all day and had to run up and down stairs to get to the rooftop. So how do you make a simple dinner last all night? The answer is courses. We had three, plus dessert, which meant each couple was in charge of making a course and serving it. We had so much fun and were so relaxed, that we were dancing between courses.

Let's talk decor. As I was setting up, a man from a building across the way yelled over to me, and told me how beautiful everything was - but what was with the wooden sailboat centre piece? I laughed out loud, because for onlookers that might seem like an odd choice. I told him we were on a sailboat earlier that day. He seemed satisfied with that answer.

Another decor piece that I had to get my hands on, was lace. I was lucky enough to find some vintage lace off Craigslist. It was beautiful. It helped give it a 1800's feel. The only thing missing was Captain Hook. A classy well behaved Captain Hook.

In the last post, I mentioned how we secretly took oyster shells that we shucked from the boat, for a later use. The purpose of doing this was to use two for each place setting, on top of the napkins (pictured below). It gave the day continuity.

Since we were on a rooftop, there was no lighting, which meant it would get pitch black. We needed a good lighting system: Candelabras. They actually give off a lot of light.  How beautiful it was to see the wax dripping down the sides. (Some people use fake burning candles. No mess, no fuss, but unfortunately no ambiance. They should be illegal. If you can't have wax candles, figure out a different solution.) Now, because it was going to be dark, we thought it would be smart to set up guard posts so no one would get lost and fall off. So we rented 6 chrome posts, and wove nautical looking rope through it.

The final thing I want to discuss is name cards. This actually deserves a whole blog post on itself. Because the special couple are not just your average Joe's, I wanted to spice it up with name cards. I gave all our friends pirate middle names. My card said "Charysse 'Walk the Plank' Carlson" (pictured below). Some other middle names we had were Treasure Chest, Peg Leg, Cannonballs and Yarrr! Each person also had a different picture - all with the same feel.

All in all, it was the least stressful dinner I have ever put together. Everything was delicious and relaxing. All night, the neighbours were taking pictures of us - and well, we all felt pretty darn special.  What a night.

I remember so clearly my girlfriend saying to me how that whole day was so romantic between friends. And she was right. Just call us The Romantics.

Yaarrrr!

Charysse

Event Series IVa: The Romantic Pirate Sailboat and Dinner

Since this anniversary day was a full day event, done in two parts, I will do the blog in two parts. We will start with the sailing. The second posting will be about the dinner that followed.

Description: An anniversary celebration on a sailboat.

People: 8 and a Captain!

Menu: Different variety of oysters, freshly grated horseradish, two different types of tabasco, lemon wedges.

Drinks: Fiji water, white wine, beer.

Playlist: Beach Boys, Marilyn Monroe, James Brown, Henry Mancini, Bob Marley, The Faces, Sublime, Weezer, The Killers, and many more.

The special couple knew we had something planned, but had no idea what we were doing. At 9am we dropped a little treasure chest out front of their door. It had instructions on what to bring and wear, and all things pirate: eyepatch, rope etc.

We met at the Marina, in all our navy's and whites, and as they arrived we played our summer song Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. The boat we rented was a 50 foot wooden sailboat. The weather was perfect. We started in Coal Harbor (Vancouver, BC) and headed towards Jericho Beach. On our way, the boys helped sail as the girls helped with drinking the wine. Then came out the fresh oysters (pictured above). The boys shucked them and we all enjoyed a leisurely snack. (Secretly I took 16 oyster shells in a ziploc bag for later - the purpose will be revealed in the next posting). Once we anchored at Jericho, we jumped off the boat, swan dives and all. Soon enough it was time to head back.

I have never been on a sailboat previous to this, but this was something I enjoyed immensely. I bought a pair of white canvas boat shoes (pictured above) and now I understand the purpose of them. They aren't just a fashion statement, but they certainly make one.

Our Captain, Captain Evan, was a pleasant surprise. He was the perfect host, and had so many wonderful stories to share.

I honestly thought things couldn't get better than that. We said our goodbyes and dropped the happy couple off to have a nap and get glammed up for the dinner that was to follow.

To be continued...

Cheers,
Charysse

Event Series III: The Bossa Nova Lounge

So I'd like to start off by stating that this was my first ever attempt at a party. This was probably four years ago, so I forget what the menu was and what rentals we got. But do not fret! Even though I have forgotten some things, there are still tips and advice I can share.

Description: A surprise anniversary cocktail party

People: 70

Drinks: Vitamin water, Fiji water, wine, jungle juice, bahama mama, mai tai

Playlist: Don Tiki, Martin Denny, Astrud Gilberto, Elis Regina, Nouvelle Vague, Nicola Conte, Jet Society Album.

So as you can tell by the title, this cocktail party had a Bossa Nova feel to it. Think 1960's, Sean Connery as James Bond. It was in the dead of winter, and we wanted everyone to feel like they were on vaction somewhere tropical. We didn't do this by turning up the heat. With that many bodies, we didn't need to. We bought as many tropical leaves as we could get our hands on. They are quite cheap and available all year round. We also rented goldfish. Yes, you can rent goldfish! Leave it to my lovely sister-in-law to figure that one out. It definitely added life and colour. We placed them up at the bar (pictured above) because you know everyone will make multiple trips there throughout the night. And because it was a surprise, we gave the party a code name: Operation Goldfish. There was a large flat screen TV on the wall, on which we played Thunderball and Dr. No.

One major part of this night was the "Girl Drink Menu." Let's be honest, tropical drinks are girl drinks. And well, in our house we don't drink them. So it was a bit of a challenge choosing three fun drinks that we could pre-make and serve on the night of the party. It would be so simple that all the bartenders would need to do is pour and garnish with fruit and an umbrella. My husband was in charge of this. When he set out to find the perfect recipes, guess who got to be his guinea pig? Me. Oh dear. I had the biggest sugar rush of my life. But in the end, we had three perfect drinks. And to save the bartenders from repeating themselves on what was available, I made them a drink menu (pictured below).

Since this was top secret, we hired two helpers. That way there were people to greet the guests, give them directions on what to do, and even help with lighting the candles. The night just wouldn't have been as fun without their help.
  

Though the size of the gathering was large, our stealth execution resulted in a couple who were taken completely by surprise! So, as they say in the world of spies and covert operations: mission accomplished.

Cheers!
Carlson...Charysse Carlson

Event Series II: The Italian Family Dinner

So I'd like to say right off the bat, that this was probably one of the most fabulous nights I've ever had. It was relaxed, comfortable and over the top.

Description: A cozy Italian anniversary dinner.

People: 6

Rentals: Crystal Chiavari chairs x 6, round table with linen, champagne bucket with stand, flight glasses x 3 dozen.

Menu: Italian terrino (pictured below), Radish salad, truffled risotto, seafood mancotti, tira misu.

Drinks: Prosecco, white wine, red wine, pelligrino, grappa.

Playlist: Louis Prima, Bobby Darin, Dean Martin, Nino Rota, Harry Connick Jr, Tony Bennett, Pavarotti, Ezio Pinza, Pink Martini, Nine (OST), The Lost Fingers (Lost in the 80's album).

I've never been a fan of taking a couple out for dinner on really special occasions. The effort just isn't there, and sometimes they'll put you in a "Special Private Room" but really when you think about it, that takes away from any ambiance, and well I find it sort of boring. This is why planning dinner parties can be so much fun. You have control over everything and most importantly your night will not be ruined by bad service.

The first, and only, problem we had, was having the room for an actual sit down dinner (it's hard to come by in 640 square feet). To solve this problem, we made our bedroom into a dinning room. There were two advantages to this: 1) we had a perfect light fixture above the table as a focal point; and 2) it was on a dimmer switch which added to the mood lighting.

The idea behind this night was a sit down dinner with different courses accompanied with wine flights. I got asked a lot what wine flights are and how they work. Well here it goes:  A wine flight is basically a wine tasting. Wine flight glasses are smaller in size. So with each course that came out, we would bring out fresh new flight glasses and a new bottle on a silver tray (pictured below) that was to compliment the course you were eating. You don't need to buy uber expensive wine. It tastes good because you're making it special. And of course we didn't forget to pair something with dessert! Grappa. Ah, good ol' grappa. We made a little video of each person saying something in Italian then shooting the grappa. This may sound strange, but this was the best part of the whole night.

When it got dark enough, we put on our projector and played La Dolce Vita. That movie was our inspiration. Because I'm a graphic designer, I always need to do something extra to make it special. I did up menu's of six different scenes from Italy (Florence pictured below). Another thing that makes it special is dressing the part. I don't understand people who don't like dressing up. I find any reason to do it. It really adds to the feel of the night. My husband put on his black skinny tie and Valentino suit. He looked like it could have been 1962 on the Via Veneto

The most important thing of the night, of course, is the company. The night just wouldn't have been the same without them. Amo la mia famiglia!

Ciao,

Charysse

Event Series I: The French High Tea

Description: A French Afternoon Tea / Baby Shower

People: 40

Rentals: High top tables x 2, small round tables x 4 with appropriate linens, white folding chairs x 16, champagne flutes x 4 dozen, 3 tier plate stands with plates x 4, tea cups and saucers x 4 dozen, plates x 4 dozen.

Food: Tea sandwiches, cheese and meat platter, truffles, scones with devonshire cream and jam, lemon tarts, cookie cups with mousse and fruit, shortbread, profiterole's, mini fruit tarts.

Drinks: Four types of tea with the choice of adding booze to one (Cream Earl Grey, Tropical Green, Blueberry, Mocha Rooibos). We also had a Signature drink which we named a Kir Royal (not to be mistaken with Kir Royale). My baby niece's name is Royal:)

Playlist: Brigitte Bardot, Gotan Project, Serge Gainsbourg, Nouvelle Vague, Ella Fitzgerald, France Gall, Eartha Kitt, Charles Trenet and Edith Piaf.

We wanted to create a cozy feminine feel. We pulled out all of my mum's bone china tea cups and put roses in each one. We also pulled out all her silver and polished it all up with Wenol (which is actually quite time consuming - so make sure to do it a couple days before). We bought so many roses we were stuffing them in teapots and anything we could think of (Costco flowers are ridiculously cheap, but only last max two days - perfect for the occasion). 

Another thing that helps in a larger group is name tags for champagne glasses. It's really frustrating when you stand at a hightop table and lose your glass. Then you proceed to hold up each glass to try and match your lipstick to the glass. So to stop the confusion I made name tags for each person and tied them with a silk ribbon around each glass.

For the tea sandwiches we had four different types, and cut them into different shapes so everyone could differentiate. I also created a legend so they would know what they are eating, as pictured below:

When planning a party, I find having two planners is the perfect number. This, in the long run, helps you to relax and actually enjoy the party. Better yet, hiring a teenager or close friend you know as well, to serve and do a bit of the grunt work is well worth the money. Why go through all this work and not enjoy the fruits of your labour? If you plan well, I truly believe you can enjoy your party and still be that hospitable host everyone knows you to be. No one can enjoy themselves if you look stressed out. So grab a glass of bubbly and work the room.

Cheers,
Charysse

Event Series: Introduction - Let's Partay!

One thing that I love to do, is throw parties for close friends. I've thrown everything from intimate dinners for 6 to cocktail parties of 60. 

In the following blogs, I will showcase each party - themes, details, playlists, rentals and tips to customize that special party. These blogs are to inspire you so you can customize your own. Let the fun begin!

Cheers,

Charysse